Machine for and method of registering printing plates



July 17, 1951 E. L. HARLEY MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF REGISTERINGPRINTING PLATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1949 July 17, 1951 I Q TInven m Patented July 17, 1951 UN [TED PATENT OFFICE MACHINEFORANDMETHOD OF REGISTER- ING' -PRINTINGZ PLATES EarleLvHarley, Brooklyn N. Y.

Application January 4, 1919,, Serial N e 69,093

-Glaims; 1

My'invention is directed to a novel machine for and'a novel method ofregistering colo'r print- "ingplates which' are to be subsequentlyremoved foruse' in multicolor printing presses;

My invention includes'a' machinein which the printing plates are securedto backing sheets which havebeen removably fastened on two'p'a'rallelcylinders arranged side by side in the" machine.

My invention also includes a mirror unit which is mounted on the machinefor usein registering one set of color plates with their other set" ofcoacting printing plates.

My invention also includes means for rotating the cylinders step by stepin unison in the same direction for permitting the registration ofdifferent' pairs of coacting plates-carried by the cylin'der-bacl'cingsheets.

My invention also includes a third-cylinder located beneath and parallelwith the two plate carrying cylinders, which lower cylinder is adaptedtohave a proof sheet removably'attached thereto.

My invention also includes means for opera-- t'ively connecting theproof sheet-carrying cylinder to the plate carrying cylinderswhereby-the proof sheet carrying cylinder may be rotated in unison withthe said plate carrying cylinders.

My invention also includes means for moving the proof sheet carryingcylinder bodily to bring its proof sheet into printing contact with theregistered plates on the plate'carrying cylinders after said plates havebeen inked, whereby the printing effects and plate registry may beobserved on the proof sheet before the printing plates with theirbacking sheets are removed from their cylinders.

A practical means for carrying out my inven- "tion is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a front end view ofthe machine with an intermediate portion broken away showing plates forprinting one color secured to a backing sheet removably fastened to thefirst :cylinder and registered plates for printing another color securedto a backing sheet removably fastened to the secondcylinder, the thirdcylin- 'der with its proof sheet being lowered out of-contact with theplates carried by the first two cylinders; v

Fig. 2 represents a cross section taken in the .plane of the line IIIIof Fig. 1, looking in the :direction of the arrows;

Fi-g. 3 represents a cross section taken in'the :planeofthe lineIII-IIIof Fig. 1, looking'dnthe directi'onof the arrows;-

= T "'wi "with the pinion 242 Fig.4 represents a detail section on anenlarged scale showing the proof sheet carrying cylinder raised to itsprinting position;

Fig; 5 represents a detail section showing'one of the eccentricmountings for the shaft of the proof sheet carrying, cylinder; and

Fig. 6 represents a detail view showing a plate and a brayer for inkingthe same.

Two parallel cylinders I and 2 arranged side by side have their shafts 3and 4' rotatably mounted in the side frames 5 and 6 of the machine,which side frames are shown as being rigidly connected by upper tie rods1 and I and lower tie rods 8 and 8'.

The plates 9 of flexible material, as rubber, for printing one color aresecured, as by an adhesive, to" a flexible backing sheet II] which isremovably fastened around the cylinder 1 as by staples.

bearings- [T which are in turn rotatably mounted in side-frames 5 and 6.These eccentric bearings 1 1 are provided with arms l8 connected acrossthe machine by a handle bar I9 which serves as a means for rocking theeccentric bearings H for raising the shaft l5 and its cylinder [3 tobring the proof sheet [4 intoprinting contact with the plates 9 and H onthe removable backing-sheets Wand ['2 on the cylinders i and 2'.

These three cylinders I, 2 and l3 which may be "of woodor other suitablematerial are rotated step by step for registering different pairs ofplates around the cylinders land 2'. They also are rotated togetherafter plates have been inked) to cause the proof sheet I to be printedtwocol'ors'. The means for rotating thesecyl- '-ind'ers includes thefollowing element:

The cylinders I and 2 are provided with spur gears 2|] and 2| which meshwith a pinion 2'2 -whose shaft 23 is rotatably mounted in the side frame6". This pinion 22' meshes with the pinion fl 'on the shaft 25 of ahandwheel 26. This shaft 25 is'also rotatably mounted in the side frame5. proof sheet carrying cylinder l--3'- is provided aspur gear 21 whichmeshes at all times .29 t the eye of the observer.

v in two colors.

2,561,115 1. (ice-1'.

The mirror unit is shown as including a housing 28 open at its front toprovide an observation window 29. This housing is also open at itsbottom. This mirror unit is mounted on the machine frame above the upperplate carrying cylinders I and 2 to slide lengthwise thereof on the twoupper tie rods I and I.

The mirrors for reflecting the superimposed images of the pairs ofcoacting plates 9 and II on the upper cylinders I and 2 through thewindow 29 to the eye of an observer, are arranged in the housing 28 asfollows:

An inclined non-transparent mirror 30 is located over the upper cylinderI in position to horizontally reflect the image of a first colorprinting plate 9 on the first cylinder I to an inclined transparentmirror 3|.

non-transparent mirror 32. This mirror 32 horizontally reflects theimage through the window An inclined nontransparent mirror 33 is locatedover the coacting printing plate I! on the second upper cylinder 2 inposition to horizontally reflect the image of said plate II to thenon-transparent mirror This mirror 34 vertically reflects the image ofsaid plate II through the inclined transparent mirror 3| to thenon-transparent mirror 32. This mirror 32 will horizontally reflect itsimage in superimposed relation with the image reflected from thecoacting plate 9 on the uppercylinder I through said window 29 to theeye of the observer. The mirror unit will thus ensure the exactregistration of the plate II on the second cylinder 2 with its coactingplate 9 on the first cylinder I. This mirror unit is movable along thetwo upper tie rods 7, I and the two cylinders I and 2 are rotatable stepby step in unison in cylinders I and 2 to the eye of the observer, foraccurate registration of all of the plates along and. around bothcylinders.

In practice; the backing sheets I0 and I2 are temporarily fastenedaround theircylinders I and 2 and the proof sheet I4 is temporarilyfastened register with their coacting plates 9 on thecylinder I by theuse of the mirror unit.

After all of the pairs of coacting plates on the two upper cylindershave been exactly registered and mounted the plates may be inked withthe desired colors by a suitable brayer 35 and the use of a color supply(not shown). The handlebar I9, with its arms I8 and eccentric bearingsI1, is then rocked upwardly from its normal hanging position shown inFig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4 to raise the lower cylinder I3tobring its proof sheet I4 into printing contact with vthe plates on thefirst and second printing cylinders. A spring latch bar 39 is secured tothe cross bar 8 in position to engage .the handle bar I9 and: removablyhold it its raised position. The three cylinders are then rotated onerevolution by the hand wheel 26 to cause the plates to print on theproof sheet ered and the printed proof sheet detached, there- Thismirror 3I vertically reflects the said image to an inclined,

the same direction to reflect the superimposed dmages of different pairsof coacting plates 9 and I I along and around the two upper platecarrying The cylinder I3 may then be lowfrom for observation as to coloreffect, registry, etc. The plate mounted sheets I9 and I2 may then bedetached from their respective cylinders I and 2 for use thereafter onthe printing cylinders of a suitable rotary printing press.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in theconstruction, form and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from thespirit and scope of my invention,

and. hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodimentherein shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a frame, first, second and third cylinderspermanently mounted therein, the first and second cylinders beinglocated side by side and the third cylinder being located beneath thfirst and second cylinders, means for rotating the said cylinders inunison, flexible backing sheets removably fastened around ,the

first and second cylinders and a proof sheet re,- movably fastenedaround the third cylinder, 'flexible color printing plates, plates forprin i g one color being secured to the backing sheet on the firstcylinder, and plates for printing another color being secured to thebacking sheet on the second cylinder in register with theircorresponding plates on the first cylinder back- ,ing sheet, a mirrorunit mounted on the frame in position to reflect the superimposed imagesof corresponding plates on the two backing sheets to a predeterminedobservation point, means for inking the plates, and means for moving thethird cylinder with its proof sheet upwardly into printing contact withthe plates to be printed thereby before the backin sheets with theirregistered printing plates are removed from their first and secondcylinders.

2. In combination, a frame, first, secondand third cylinders permanentlymounted therein, the first and. second cylinders being located side byside and the third cylinder being located beneath the first and secondcylinders, means for rotating the said cylinders in unison comprisingnon-meshing gears on the first, secondand third cylinders, a pinionmeshing with the first and second cylinder gears and a manually operatedsecond pinion meshing with the third cylinder gear and with the firstnamed pinion, flexible backing sheets removably fastened around ,the

.fiISt and second cylinders and a proof sheet removably fastened aroundthe third cylinder, flexible color printing plates, the plates forprinting in one color being secured to the backing sheet on the firstcylinder, and the plates for printing another color being secured to thebacking sheet on the second cylinder with their corresponding plates onthe first cylinder backing sheet, a mirror unit mounted on the frame ,inposition to reflect the superimposed images of corresponding plates onthe two sheets, to a predetermined observation point, means for inkingthe plates, and means for moving the third cylinder with its proof sheetupwardly into'p'rinting contact with the plates to be printed thereby.before the backing sheets with their registered printing plates areremoved from their firstan second cylinders. 3. In combination, a frame,first, second and third cylinders permanently mounted therein, the firstand second cylinders being locatedside by side and the third cylinder.being located beneath the first and second cylinders, means for rotating-the said cylinders in unison, flexible backing sheets removablyfastened around the first, and

second cylinders and a proof sheet removably fastened around the thirdcylinder, flexible color printing plates, the plates for printing onecolor bein secured to the backing sheet on the first cylinder, and theplates for printing another color being secured to the backing sheet onthe second cylinder in register with their corresponding plates on thefirst cylinder backing sheet, a mirror unit mounted on the frame to bemoved lengthwise of the cylinders into different positions to reflectthe superimposed images of different pairs of corresponding plates onthe two backing sheets, to a predetermined point, means for inking theplates, and means for moving the third cylinder with its proof sheetupwardly into printing contact with the plates to be printed therebybefore the backing sheets with their registered printing plates areremoved from their first and second cylinders.

4. In combination, a frame, first, second and third cylinderspermanently mounted therein, the first and second cylinders bein locatedside by side and the third cylinder being located beneath the first andsecond cylinders, means for rotating the said cylinders in unisoncomprising gears on the first, second and third cylinders, a pinionmeshing with the first and second cylinder gears and a manually operatedsecond pinion meshing with the third cylinder gear and with the firstnamed pinion, flexible backing sheets removably fastened around thefirst and second cylinders and a proof sheet fastened around the thirdcylinder, flexible color printing plates, the plates for printing onecolor being secured to the backing sheet on the first cylinder, and theplates for printing another color being secured to the backing sheets onthe second cylinder in register with their corresponding plates on thefirst cylinder backing sheet, a mirror unit mounted on the frame to bemoved lengthwise of the cylinders into different positions to reflectthe superimposed images of different pairs of corresponding plates onthe two backing sheets to a predetermined point, means for inking theplates, and means for moving the third cylinder with its proof sheetupwardly into printing contact with the plates to be printed therebybefore the backing sheets with their registered printing plates areremoved from their first and second cylinders.

5. The herein described method which includes, temporarily fasteningbacking sheets around first and second cylinders and temporarilyfastening a proof sheet around a third cylinder, securing first colorflexible printing plates to the first cylinder backing sheet in thedesired positions thereon, securing second color flexible printingplates to the second cylinder backing sheet in accurate register withtheir coacting printing plates on the first cylinder by the use of amirror unit, inking the color plates on both backing sheets, raising thethird cylinder to bring its proof sheet into printing contact with theinked plates on the first and second cylinders, rotating the threecylinders to cause the plates to print in two colors on the proof sheet,lowering the third cylinder, detaching the printed proof sheettherefrom, and finally detaching the two plated backing sheets forfurther use in a suitable rotary color printing press.

EARLE L. HARLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,357,945 Berold Nov. 9, 19201,885,965 Thiel Nov. 1, 1932 2,073,308 Klein Mar. 9, 1937 2,172,144Oakes Sept. 5, 1939 2,236,000 Koessler Mar. 25, 1941 2,277,405 McKiernanMar. 24, 1942 2,294,879 Affelder Sept. 8, 1942 2,493,628 Harley Jan. 3,1950

